Carl Bock Frankfurt Custom Mauser Bolt Action Rifle & Claw-Mount Scope, C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,375.00

WOA#: WY240508JL017

Make: Carl Bock

Model: Custom Mauser Rifle

Serial Number: 1378

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1940s-1960s

Caliber: The bore is approximately 7mm. A 6.5×55 will chamber properly, but we could not get the bolt to close all the way on a 7x57mm. The chamber should be cast to confirm exact chambering before firing.

Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine Rifle with Double-Set Triggers

Markings: The bottom of the receiver is marked “1378”, the extractor “42”, the magazine follower “27” and the bolt sleeve “3304”. There is a waffenamt on the bolt root. The receiver, barrel and floorplate have oak leaf relief engraving with a silver elk scene on the floorplate. The floorplate is also marked “CUSTOM BUILT / FOR / K.R. MARTIN / BY CARL BOCK O.H. / FRANKFURT/M. / GERMANY”. The left of the scope body is marked “WAFFEN – BOCK FRANKFURT/M.”.

Barrel Length: 26″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade mounted to a textured, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The base is grooved for a hood but none is present. The rear sight has one fixed and one folding “U”-notch dovetailed to a base fixed to the rear of the barrel. Bases for claw-mounts are installed on the barrel shank and bridge. A Hensold-Wetzlar Dialytan 4x scope with crosshair reticle is installed. The scope has some minor wear in the body and the glass is fairly clear, but could use a good cleaning

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is checkered walnut with carved oak leaf motif, ebony nosecap, monte carlo comb with cheekpiece, serrated horn buttplate, capped pistol grip, and sling swivels front and rear. The stock has scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some finish wear, most notable on the right of the comb. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14 3/8″ and 13 5/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has light wear with a crack at the heel. Overall, the stock is in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original to custom build.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion and a little stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches, mostly on the barrel. There is some finish loos around the rear sight base that looks like oxidation was removed, and there is a little bit of scattered minor surface oxidation in the engraving. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with usable slots. Most markings are clear, the waffenamt is shallow and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as custom-built.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the installed scope described above.

Our Assessment: Carl Bock was a German gunmaker based in Frankfurt. He must have done something right, because there’s still a sporting goods retailer bearing his name, still in Frankfurt. This example of his work is a custom Mauser-action hunting rifle made for someone named K.R. Martin. The rifle has a few mysteries, starting with its chambering. It is not marked with a caliber, the bore is approximately 7mm, but a 7x57mm cartridge does not allow the bolt to close. A 6.5×55 cartridge chambers just fine, but the bore is too large for the 6.5 projectile. The chamber will need to be cast to confirm before firing this rifle. Speaking of missing markings, the rifle not only doesn’t have an import marking, it doesn’t have any German proof marks. What it does have is beautiful germanic oak leaf engraving with a silver elk on the magazine floorplate. Topped with a quick-detach vintage Hensoldt-Wetzlar scope, this is a classy German rifle that will add nicely to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud